Xavier Edwards ran for a pair of touchdowns, Damarcus Malone pitched in another rushing score to cap a near nine-minute drive and Athens took down Cullman 24-14 on Friday night in the Class 6A, Region 7 opener for both teams. 

With the win, the Golden Eagles improved to 3-0 (1-0) on the season. The Bearcats, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2 (0-1). 

“It’s always a close one with Cullman,” Athens coach Cody Gross said. “We’ve been fairly successful during my time here, but it’s always a tough place to play, because Cullman is a tough team every year — physical and well-coached. It’s good to get a region win, though, and go into the bye week at 3-0.” 

Athens held a 17-0 lead early in the third quarter following Edwards’ second scoring run before Cullman eventually got on the board with a touchdown pass from Preston Gay to Grayson Gay shortly afterward. 

But the road squad chewed up a huge amount of clock in the fourth quarter, surging ahead 24-7 with just 3:02 remaining on Malone’s TD. 

Gay capped the scoring for the Bearcats with a touchdown toss to Rex Chandler. 

Connor Johnston kicked a 27-yard field goal for Athens, which also got an interception from Walker Harrison. 

“We played some complementary football tonight,” Gross said. “Going up 24-7 there late in the fourth quarter — methodically driving down the field — effectively put it out of reach. That was a huge drive. We also pinned them inside the 1-yard line twice on punts. Every week isn’t going to be pretty. You’ve got to win these games where you don’t play your best.” 

Cullman will travel to Jasper next week.